Should Skillsoft prioritize expanding its library of short-form microlearning content or focus on developing more in-depth, comprehensive courses?

Introduction

The trade-off Skillsoft faces is whether to prioritize expanding its library of short-form microlearning content or focus on developing more in-depth, comprehensive courses. This decision is crucial for Skillsoft's product strategy and will significantly impact user engagement, content creation processes, and overall business growth. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the product context, identifying key metrics, designing experiments, and providing a data-driven recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm thinking our current user base might be split between those preferring quick, bite-sized learning and those seeking in-depth knowledge. Could you share any data on user preferences or engagement patterns with our existing content types?

Why it matters: Helps tailor our solution to actual user needs Expected answer: Mixed preferences, with a trend towards shorter content Impact: Would influence the balance of our content strategy

• Business Context: Based on our revenue model, I assume we charge per course or have subscription tiers. How does our pricing structure align with different content types?

Why it matters: Ensures our decision supports revenue growth Expected answer: Tiered pricing with premium for comprehensive courses Impact: Might lead to a hybrid approach to serve different market segments

• User Impact: Considering our diverse user base, how do learning outcomes differ between short-form and comprehensive courses?

Why it matters: Ensures we're delivering value across user segments Expected answer: Varied outcomes, with short-form better for skills refreshment and comprehensive for deep learning Impact: Could lead to a segmented content strategy

• Technical: Regarding our content creation process, what's the relative effort and resource allocation for producing short-form vs. comprehensive courses?

Why it matters: Helps assess feasibility and scalability of each option Expected answer: Short-form is quicker to produce but requires more frequent updates Impact: Might influence our content development strategy and team structure

• Timeline: Given market trends, how urgent is this decision? Are we seeing any immediate shifts in user demand or competitor offerings?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize this decision against other initiatives Expected answer: Increasing demand for microlearning, but still a strong market for comprehensive courses Impact: Could lead to a phased approach, starting with expanding microlearning while planning for long-term comprehensive course development